ID :
44978
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 14:42
Auther :

Ethiopian Ambassador: Piracy cannot be solved without settling

By: Abdullah al-Husami

Translated by: Mahmoud Assamiee

SANA'A, Feb. 09 ( Saba )- Somali piracy is the result of existing
problems in Somalia, said Ethiopian ambassador to Yemen Tofiki
Abdulahi .

He said piracy represents joint concern to Yemen and Ethiopia
alike, adding " Without solving Somali issue, the piracy will not
finished."

He said Sana'a Forum for Economic, Political, Security and Cultural
Cooperation has realized many achievements and its objectives.

Abdulahi hoped more growth and development to the forum for severing
the interests of regional countries.

For more about the forum, relations between the member countries
and Somali issue, Assiasiah conducted the following interview with
the Ethiopian Ambassador.

Q: How do you evaluate Yemeni-Ethiopian relations?
A: Our relations with Yemen are historical and ancient. There are
kinship and
family relations and joint attitudes in the policy, economy,
trade in All
international gatherings.

Q: Do see Sana'a Forum able to realize the dream it was established
for? A: Sana'a Forum has been established in 2002 and that its
march is positive. It has
realized touchable achievements since its establishment,
wither in enhancing economic relations for serving the
interests of member countries or in security and
political domains.

Furthermore, there are different committees for following up
implementing treaties between the two
countries as well as between the rest of member countries
(in addition to Yemen and Ethiopia there are Sudan , Somalia and
Djibouti ). Aden
Free Zone, God welling, will contribute in enhancing trade
cooperation between
the two countries.
Q: Are you satisfied with the performance of the forum?
A: Sana'a Forum has realized many of its objectives, as I have
already mentioned,
wither they are political, economic, commercial, social or
security, but we are
waiting for more achievements from it.
Q: Mentioning security, is there cooperation and coordination
between
Yemen and Ethiopia in this field ?
A: There is security cooperation inside the forum, "information
exchange" is among
of its aims.
Q: Does Ethiopia oppose or has reservations on including Eritrea in
the forum? Q: The forum is not for Ethiopia alone. We do not oppose
including any one. The
forum is composed of countries of the South of the Red Sea and
the African Horn
and it is opened to any country wants to join it.



Economic Cooperation



Q: How do you evaluate economic cooperation between Yemen and
Ethiopia? A: Ethiopia and Yemen enjoy intimately and mutual
relations since long years.
The relations between the two peoples are exceeding ordinary
ones existing between
countries. In addition, there is geographical and historical
convergence
has helped in crystallizing relations between the two
countries. Currently, economic cooperation
between the two countries has realized positive results.

The joint committee between the two countries and the forum
aims at improving
economic and trade relations and improving investment in the
two countries.
Another committee has been also established between the
businessmen in
member countries for improving and enhancing trade activities.
There is trade
exchange in different fields. Ethiopia for example is
exporting cattle and other
agricultural products, such as grains, to Yemen .

Q: Do you import something from Yemen?
A: Yes. We import different kinds of goods and food products such
as soap, ghee, canned foods, chemical compounds and
industrial products. These are the most
important imports from Yemen

Q: Concerning Ethiopian infiltrators to Yemen, how can this
problem be solved?
A: The main cause of this problem is economic. There are no
political problems behind it. The purpose of this
problem is infiltrating to Gulf countries via
Yemen.
This is a problem to Ethiopia, Yemen, infiltrators themselves
and to Gulf countries.

Q: How this problem can be solved?
A: By economic improvement. This improvement comes via investments
of
neighboring and Gulf countries in Ethiopia for opening
working fields. Q: Regarding Ethiopian community in Yemen, what is
the number? A: Nearly 20,000 people.

Somali Issue

Q: Talking about Somali situation, how do you see Somali future
after winning of Sheikh Sharif as the president to the
country? A: There Must be support from the neighboring countries,
the Arab League, African
Union and the United Nation to the new Somali government.
There must be also
reconciliation between the warring factions in Somalia to
contribute in building their countries to realize peace
and stability.

They must, first, implement Djibouti agreement over
establishing National Reconciliation Government
and second provide humanitarian assistance to
Somali people and reconstructing the country.
Q: Ethiopia recently withdrew its last soldier from Somalia, did
your forces
achieve the aim they sought when entered the country?
A: For me, I consider that Ethiopia has achieved her aims. The
first of these aims for
entering the country was to help the transitional government
for realizing peace and stability in Somalia upon request
from this government.

The second point is that there was a threat from Islamic courts
and opposition of
the transitional government to launch a war against Ethiopia
and we could thwart this plot. Unfortunately, the
political differences between leaders of the
transitional government in Somalia was behind failure of
stability and security
realized when the Ethiopian forces entered the country.

Beside the piracy in Somalia, there is another problem in the
country that is burying chemical wastes in Somali
coasts. These problem represents a danger to the country
and its neighbors.

Q: These are common aims, but what was the main reason for
interference of
Ethiopian forces in Somali affairs?

A: First of all, the transitional government which has been
established in 2004 in
Kenya under the sponsorship of the United Nation and the
African Union has got
support from Ethiopia and weak support from other countries.
Then Ethiopia
intervened via a call from the transitional government for
keeping peace and
stability in Somalia.

The second reason for interference was announcing Jihad against
Ethiopia several
times by Somali Islamic Courts, opposing the transitional
government.

Q: Ethiopia has withdrawn its forces, given that Islamic Courts
have returned to the
country and take over most Somali areas, which means your aims
was not
realized?
A: Of course we have achieved our aim, but a number of countries
have supposed to
participate sending forces. Thus Ethiopia must not bear every
thing happening to
Somalia. All had must to participate.

Q: Did the African Union participate in forces?
A: The union has participated with only 3500 soldiers. This number
was not enough
and there must be political pressure against leaders of the
transitional government
for reconciliation between them for Somali stability?

Q: What about the reality of news saying the Ethiopian forces were
fighting proxy
war on behalf of the United Sates, especially after killing 18
US soldiers in
Somalia?
A: This is a tone we hear every time. We entered Somalia, as I
said, for Somali
interests. There might be joint attitude with any country but
the first aims was
keeping peace in the area. In addition to banning utilizing
the situation in Somalia
for using the country a center for harming Ethiopian
stability. What has been said
about proxy war is baseless.


Q: Some international organizations accuse your soldiers of
committing war crimes
in Somalia, what is the realty of this?
A: This is not true. Besides, there is no proving on that. These
news are repeated by
persons or newspapers for evoking problems in the area.

Piracy

Q: Who Stands behind piracy, from you viewpoint?
A: Piracy is the result of problems in Somalia and considered a
part of
insecurity and instability problem.

The piracy in the south of The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is
considered a jiont
concern to Yemen and Ethiopia. This, of course, reflects the
nature of the prime
issue in Somalia. The area is not only responsible on Somali
issue, but also on the
whole world.

Q: Are there exterior hands?
A: God Knows. But, without the Somali issue and realizing the
country stability,
there are no solutions to piracy.

The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are the most important water
passages to
ships coming from different countries. Piracy hinders passing
these ships.
This problem is reflected badly on Ethiopia and cause economic
and trade
stagnancy.


Q: What is the anxiety piracy poses to Ethiopia?
A: We have export and import activities between your country and
ours and with
other countries. Piracy poses a problem to all. Insurances are
increasing on ships
and this has bad effect under global financial crises and
economic stagnant. Q: Are there fears in Ethiopia in
internationalizing the Red Sea's waters?

A: We have fears from the political and social problems in Somalia.
The problem in
Somalia is not only the piracy.

Q: There are news on making a base for Israeli nuclear rockets in
Ethiopia directed
against Egypt and Saudi Kingdom, is this true?
A: These are lies. These are only news published by some newspapers
for attracting
attention of their readers.


Q: So, why your country does not refute these news?
A: For me, this is the first time to hear about this news.
Q: Is there relation between Ethiopia and Israel?
A: Like any other country, Ethiopia has diplomatic relations with
Israel. Q: Who supports or stands behind the Ethiopian National
Liberation Front "Oromo"
opposing the system in the country?
A: Of course and without doubt Eritrea. The front also has a center
and training
camp in Eritrea for conducting terrorist activity in Ethiopia.

Qat

Q: Qat is a joint conjunction between the two countries, what about
exporting this
plant to other countries?

A: We export Qat to many countries, among of them Djibouti and
Somalia as well as
England.
Q: There are news that Yemen intends to import Qat from your
country, is this
correct?
A: We are ready to export Qat to Yemen.








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